By the Numbers: Can 2010 Be Marshall’s Best Season Yet?

With really nothing going on this time of year, outside of rookie negotiations and signings, you could literally here a pin drop, due to the dullness and silence that is late June. Consider Brandon Marshall’s comments over the weekend at his youth football camp the pin.

“I’m not making a prediction,” Marshall told the Palm Beach Post. “But this is going to be a great year for us, and for me probably the best year I’ve had.” Nothing earth-shattering or controversial, thankfully, but something to talk about nonetheless.

While Marshall’s lofty expectations for the Dolphins and himself might get fans all wound up with excitement, realist may make the case that career numbers are unlikely with Miami’s dedication to the run.

So let’s get to Marshall’s statistics thus far, and how often the Broncos have ran and passed compared to the Dolphins, to get a feel for what Marshall is capable of.

Brandon Marshall

As you can see, it’s going to take at least 1,326 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns for Marshall to have career numbers. Of course, if he has a little less than 1,300 yards but surpasses his 09′ touchdown total, or has one or two less touchdowns but puts up more yards than ever, you could still make a case for 2010 being his best season.

Whatever the case, it’s going to take a very prolific year for Marshall to statistically one-up what he has done in Denver. But will he get as many opportunities in Dan Henning’s offense? Let’s take a look.

Miami Dolphins

Denver Broncos

Those totals come out to the Dolphins passing the ball about 52% of the time, while the Broncos aired it out around 54% of the time during Marshall’s four year stint in Denver. Those percentages don’t seem to indicate that Marshall’s numbers are going to decline too heavily in Miami’s run-first attack.

Obviously, these statistics don’t take into effect things like having to throw the ball because you are behind, or milking the clock with the lead, but they seem fairly parallel with each team’s philosophy. And when you take into account the fact that Marshall gives the Dolphins the ability to open things up a bit, meaning throwing the ball more, Marshall having a career year in 2010 doesn’t seem too far-fetched after all.

And maybe he wasn’t even talking about individual accolades when he made those comments. Maybe he was suggesting that by winning ball games, and making a serious playoff run, the team’s success would define 2010 as his best season yet. But then again, career numbers from Marshall would go a long way in making those team goals possible.